Henderson Winger Rapheal Lavoie (#36) skates with the puck inside the San Jose Barracuda zone with Cuda forward Ethan Cardwell (#56) looking on in the background at Lee’s Family Forum on Saturday DEC 28, 2024. (Henderson Silver Knights)

by Marko Ukalovic

Lucas Carlsson scored two power play goals in third period to help the San Jose Barracuda cruise to a 5-2 victory over the Henderson Silver Knights on Saturday afternoon at Lee’s Family Forum.

San Jose snapped its two-game losing streak. Henderson has lost seven of its past eight games.

San Jose (17-9-0-2-36 points) drew first blood just past the halfway mark of the first period as their fourth line magic continued to put up offensive numbers. Scott Sabourin scored his fourth goal of the season at the 10:22 mark. Ethan Frisch and Ethan Cardwell received helpers on the goal.

Cuda captain Andrew Poturalski doubled the Barracuda lead early in the second period. Colin Graff set up Poturalski’s first goal of the contest, his 12th of the season at the 7:52 mark.

Poturalski scored his second goal of the goal and team leading 13th of the season late in the middle frame. Jack Thompson set up Poturalski who beat Silver Knights goalie Carl Lindbom with a wrist shot. Thomas Bordeleau picked up the secondary assist, his fifth of the season.

Henderson (7-21-0-0-14 points) answered back seven seconds later on the very next shift. Rapheal Lavoie netted his sixth goal of the season when he beat Cuda goalie Georgie Romanov with a wrist shot. Christoffer Sedoff and Matyas Sapovaliv recorded assists on the play.

The Silver Knights made it a one-game game 70 seconds later and had the Cuda on their heels. Mitch McLain scored his fifth goal of the season at the 15:30 mark. Mason Geertsen and Calen Addison picked up helpers on the goal.

Carlsson gave the Barracuda an insurance goal near the halfway mark of the third period with San Jose on the man advantage. Cardwell set up Carlsson’s fourth goal of the season at the 9:10 mark.

Then Carlsson put the game away for good for San Jose with his second power play goal just over two minutes as the Cuda made the Silver Knights pay taking back-to-back penalties. Carlsson scored his fifth goal of the season at the 11:49 mark. Cardwell recorded his second assist of the game, his 16th of the season.

Romanov (6-4-1-0) stopped 22 of the 24 shots he faced to earn his sixth win of the season. Lindbom (2-6-0-1) made 38 saves on 43 shots in the losing effort.

GAME NOTES: San Jose finished 2-for-4 on the power play. Henderson went 0-for-7.

The Three Stars of the Game: 1) Poturalksi 2) Carlsson 3) Sabourin.

UP NEXT: San Jose and Henderson conclude their two-game weekend series on Sunday 12/29 at 1:00pm at Lee’s Family Forum.